Greek PM Alexis Tsipras expressed hopes that Greece and Armenia would cultivate closer ties, during Armenian President Serz Sargsyan’s official visit to Athens, Tuesday morning. Tsipras made reference to the pressing issue of the refugee crisis drawing from the history of both Greece and Armenia, noting the two countries’ similar experiences of seeking refuge, ethnic cleansing, genocide and forced uprooting from their homes. ‘We are faced with a great challenge of the refugee crisis’, he underscored. On the matter of the two countries’ bilateral relations he said: ‘We can make a new start in the traditional close relations between our peoples’. A series of talks have been scheduled between delegations of the two countries, while a number of bilateral agreements are expected to be signed.